Another day, another defeat for Manchester United in the Premier League—this time a 2-0 loss to Graham Potter’s West Ham. Ruben Amorim’s side continue to look directionless in domestic competition, and yet, paradoxically, they remain a force in Europe.
With a Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon, there’s still a shot at redemption in what has otherwise been a horror season.
News – Report – £325,000 a week star ready to seal Manchester United exit
It is a Europa League final with a lot riding on it. Spurs and Man Utd are currently 16th and 17th in the Premier League table – horror seasons for two clubs considered a part of the traditional Big-6.
Thus, both teams need a victory in the finals of the Europa League to secure Champions League football for the next campaign as it could prove to be game-changing.
Man Utd will surely be making two different plans for the upcoming campaign: one if they do have CL football and one if they don’t. Both financially and from a sporting perspective, the Red Devils would be able to attract a better brand of player if they manage to qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
A Newcastle United raid:
One Premier League club that has done very well both in terms of recruitment and results for the past few seasons is Newcastle United. Among the many star players that they have currently, one of them is Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Having missed the early part of the campaign through a betting-related suspension, the ex-AC Milan midfielder has returned in tremendous fashion and looks to be in brilliant form.
As per Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Man Utd are ready to offer £84.4million to sign Tonali from Newcastle United, provided they secure Champions League qualification.
Ruben Amorim wants the Italian in his midfield and it is fair to say that the 25-year-old has the perfect engine to play in the Portuguese tactician’s 3-4-3 system.
Interesting option but the price?
Playing in midfield in Amorim’s system can take a piece out of you as on paper, there are two players on the pitch tasked with controlling the entire tempo of the game.
Of course, the attacking midfielders can drop in to help out but most of the onus falls on the holding midfielders who are expected to be dynamic and box-to-box.
One can already see that in the current Man Utd squad, although Casemiro has adapted his game to suit this system, both Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo have struggled to play in this new system.
Tonali is the perfect profile in this regard and there is no doubt that Amorim would love to have him at his disposal.
Tonali may be a near-ideal fit for Amorim’s high-intensity system, but shelling out £84.4 million for one player, when the entire squad is in need of an overhaul, feels risky at best.
The Red Devils must find balance between ambition and prudence as they look to rebuild under new leadership.
And with Newcastle United themselves in contention for Champions League football, there’s no pressing reason for Tonali to jump ship just yet.
The coming months will reveal whether this transfer move gains traction—or fizzles out like so many marquee links before it.
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